Hello, this module focuses on how to manage projects in a complicated world. The world is changing rapidly and in unpredictable ways. Just consider the changes caused by new technology, worldwide trade and competition, social and political disturbances, and the environmental emergency.
You might think that project management has little to do with these major global matters. However, all kinds of organizations, whether large or small, are impacted by the world they operate in. How a company understands and responds to this complexity influences the projects it chooses to undertake and how it handles them.
This week, we begin by examining frameworks that help us grasp this intricate world. These frameworks guide our actions, responses, and decision-making in the face of complexity.
Next, we delve deeply into various methods and practices for managing projects when faced with uncertainty, instability, and change. These methods include linear approaches and life cycles, often known as the waterfall method, as well as iterative or agile approaches. You will explore the pros and cons of these methods, as well as the ongoing debates about them.
By the end, you’ll grasp how to use and blend these methods effectively to achieve successful project outcomes.
To start off this week, we’re interested in hearing about your experiences. Considering those major global issues like technology, competition, social and political changes, and environmental problems, think about how they impact your organization and the projects you’re involved in.
Feel free to share your experiences with fellow learners in the discussion.
Technology especially affects projects because of the ever changing changes always brought in board. Government policies and environmental crisis also plays a big role to affect project operations and management.
The impact of various governmental, environmental, social, political and global changes can greatly affect how organizations and the projects of a project manager. The advent of new technology, political disturbances can directly or indirectly force organizations to change the type, location and framework of projects they would embark upon, as factors such as AI, climate change could impact the projects of a project manager.
Governmental policies and climate change can also affect the inflow of currencies .Diplomatic relationship between the ruling government is a relative contributor to this issues. Competitors leverage on this factors thereby leading to limited growth and virtually any organizational project can be affected by this factors.
Almost all the projects are affected by these factors.
I work as a project manager in a farming concern and we deal with small holder farmers, aggregators, large input supply companies and even the government as major stakeholders in our project. Our project is heavily affected by these critical stakeholders and other global affairs as the world changes rapidly all around us.
For them to be categorized as global issues, there is no way that more than one or even all can affect the objective of a project.
All these factors affect every project. Be it as it may, most projects surfer from all these factors listed
As a project manager in Nigeria, political changes stand head and shoulders above the others mentioned when it comes to impact in project management. government policies regarding FOREX makes it extremely difficult from a cost point of view as you transition form forecasting for project justification and approval to actual execution. I find that its a struggle to stay within budget because of the volatility of the currency.
Technology has come a long way to affect proper delivery of a project in terms of local level,since after the Covid. It is difficult to convince them of the use of electronic devices for transactions. Also with the rapid increase in cost of materials,getting to convince a customer of the change in price is the most challenging part.
I work as a farm manager where we produce catfish in a Large commercial quantity. And the most complex and difficult aspect , is dealing with price hikes in cost of feed materials which invariably comes back to the off takers and consumers . The most challenging aspect is getting the customers to accept the changes in price especially with the high level of competition in the industry.